How do I know if a product is good for a LEED project?

Hi Alex, thanks for your question.

Whether a product, such as a LED lighting product, contributes to a LEED project would be considered by looking at the LEED credits you're pursuing for that project.

For instance most projects pursue the Optimize Energy Performance credit in LEED because it offers up to 19 potential points. LEED encourages almost any strategy that reduces energy consumption... consequently, using LED lighting instead of conventional incandescent or other high intensity lighting (even most fluorescent lamps) contributes to credits earned by the overall building under LEED 2009 EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance, or LEED v4 in the same credit.

But LED lighting can also contribute to other LEED credits, even obscure ones.

The LEED v4 BD+C Sustainable Sites credit "Light Pollution Reduction" offers points for reducing light trespass and notes that LED lighting is brighter (producing greater glare) but is also more controllable than other non-LED luminaires, so it could contribute here.

The LEED v4 BD+C PBT Source Reduction - Mercury credit encourages Healthcare projects to use lighting that does not contain mercury (which is present in high efficiency compact fluorescent lamps)... Since LEDs are mercury free, they comply with the credit requirements as long as they are at least as energy efficient as comparable mercury containing lamps.

LEDs have a longer life than most alternatives, even compact fluorescents... Therefore many LEDs will comply with the LEED IEQ Interior Lighting credit, under Option 2, as one of four strategies which states: "For at least 75% of the total connected lighting load, use light sources that have a rated life (or L70 for LED sources) of at least 24,000 hours (at 3-hour per start, if applicable)". Here's an example of this language from USGBC.org.

There may also be other credits in LEED, such as in the Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy & Atmosphere categories, and even in Innovation (in Design).